The Effects of Too Much Zinc

by Sylvie Tremblay

Consume zinc from dietary sources, such as nuts, to prevent a toxicity.

The zinc you obtain from your diet plays a number of roles in maintaining your health -- the mineral activates enzymes involved in wound healing, nervous system function, cell growth and immune health. While you need to get some zinc every day, too much zinc -- from over-consuming vitamin supplements or using zinc nasal sprays -- threatens your health. If you overdose on zinc, you might notice a number of symptoms caused by the toxic effects of the mineral.

Short-Term Effects

Consuming too much zinc can cause digestive upset, including diarrhea and abdominal pain. Very large doses of zinc -- 225 milligrams in a single dose -- can also cause you to vomit, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Smaller doses, as little as 50 milligrams in a single dose, can cause milder digestive upset, reports the LPI.

Other Effects

Taking too much zinc can prove particularly harmful if you also take medication, since high zinc levels can prevent some drugs from working properly. For example, high zinc levels prevent your body from absorbing some antibiotic medications, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Make sure to tell your doctor if you take zinc supplements to avoid a harmful drug interaction. If you take zinc supplements in the form of nasal spray, you might experience other side effects. High doses of nasal zinc can affect the nerves in your nose, causing anosmia -- a loss of your sense of smell.

Avoiding A Zinc Toxicity

Follow a healthy diet to help you get enough zinc -- meats, dairy products, nuts, beans and grains all help you reach the 11 milligrams recommended daily for men and 8 milligrams recommended daily for women, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc supplements can also help you reach your recommended zinc intake level, but you should always check with your physician to determine if you actually need supplements and, if so, how much you should take. Throw out any zinc nasal sprays lingering in your medicine cabinet -- the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled these sprays in 2009 due to their adverse effects.

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About the Author

Sylvie Tremblay holds a Master of Science in molecular and cellular biology and has years of experience as a cancer researcher and neuroscientist. Based in Ontario, Canada, Tremblay is an experienced copywriter, journalist and blogger specializing in nutrition, fitness, lifestyle, health and biotechnology, as well as real estate, agriculture and clean tech.

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